Ghaziabad looks the other way as water table dips

GHAZIABAD: Groundwater is being harnessed for commercial purposes in Ghaziabad despite the table going south at an alarming rate.

In the last four years, groundwater depleted by 3.48 metres, according to the UP groundwater department. Against this backdrop, groundwater is drawn mostly to cater to construction sites in utter violation of the law. Yet, authorities look the other way.

In the Trans-Hinson areas there are a dozen places in Kanawni, Prahladgarhi and Shakti Khand where thousands of litres of water are extracted every day and sold. One such place is in Shakti Khand 2 in Indirapuram where a high-powered pump has been installed to draw groundwater. The owner of the unit says that on an average he draws more than 25,000 litres of water everyday and it is ferried in tankers to construction sites and for other purposes.

"We charge Rs 1,000 per tanker with 4,000-litre capacity and every day about 25 such tankers are being sold to builders and others," says Nirdesh Tyagi. When asked does he have the permission he says "we have no permission but authorities are aware of it" adds Tyagi. He further says there many more such units in Kanawni and Prahladgarhi areas.

Experts say this is the major reason for depletion of the groundwater table. "It is illegal to draw groundwater in the GDA-notified areas for commercial purposes and without the permission from authorities, according to rules laid down by the Central Ground Water Authority," says Vikrant Tongad, a city-based environmentalist. "The NGT has laid down clear guidelines that only STP water can be used for construction purposes and still large amounts of groundwater are being extracted," Tongad says.

The district magistrate, who is vested with the powers to grant permission for boring, has not granted permission for the whatever boring is going on in the city. When contacted, Ghaziabad district magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said, "I will soon order a crackdown on such illegal units."

Meanwhile, according to data provided by the UP groundwater department, the water table in Noornagar area in Sinhani Gate area has depleted by 12.76 metres, while in Pratap Vihar the table has gone down by 7.25 metres in the last five years.

Meanwhile according to data provided by UP Ground Water Department, water table in Noornagar area in Sinhani Gate area has depleted by 12.76meters followed by Pratap Vihar where water table has gone down by 7.25 meters in the last five years.